Heat exchange structure



Sept 26, 1939 c. E. MEYERHOEFER 2,174,038

HEAT EXCHANGE STRUCTURE original FiledAg. 12, 1957V 2 sheets-sheet 1 MINIMUM( MHH INVENTOR ATTORN EYS *M15 50' l- 1f Sept. 26, 1939. c. E. Ml-:YERHOEFER `2,174,038

HEAT EXCHANGE STRUCTURE v Original Filed Aug. l2, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 NVENTOR arZBY Kyf/'ae/er I MLRWA XM ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 26, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HEAT EXCHANGE STRUCTURE .Carl E. Meyerhoefer, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to E. A. Laboratories, Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a structurally and functionally improved heat transfer unit,-a.nd

' in its more specific aspects, aims to provide an article of this character which will be ideally suited for use in connection with the interiors of vehicles; this application being a division of my previous application for patent, Serial No. 158,669

` on heater and fan construction, filed in the United States Patent Oflice on August 12, 1937. l I It is an object of the invention to furnish a heat transfer mechanismand especially a unit to be employed as a heater-which mechanism Will embody relatively few parts, each individually simple and rugged in construction and capable of production and assembly largely by automatic machinery and unskilled labor.

A further object of the invention is that ofconstructing a unit of this type, and by means of which a large volume of air may be effectively 20 distributed. f

` An additional object is that of providing. a

structure for use in connection with a heat transfer unit such that the parts of the unit may readily be manufactured and assembled with 25 minimum expense and in order to furnish a most desirable structure.

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attached sheets of drawings, illustrating practical embodiments of the invention,

30 and in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional plan view taken through a complete heat transfer unit, but showing the core, fan and motor casin in elevation;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of thefunit as illustrated 35 in Fig. 1 and taken along the lines 2-2 and in the direction of the arrows of'that gure; it being, moreover, noted that certain of the parts have been broken away to disclose underlying constructions Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the heater assembly; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating a slightly different form of construction.

Referring primarily to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be observed that the numeral I indicates a heating core, including for example, spaced heads between which a heat transfer structure extends. This structure may take numerous different forms but 5o preferably, and for the purpose of the present specification, is to be considered as a cellular type radiator, extending from the heads are tubes II,

which may be connected with the circulating system of the engine of a motorvehicle, or otherwise. In any event, hot or cold uid is circulated .rearwardly by fan blades 3| through these tubes and through the heat transfer core. The edges of the core are enclosed by a main casing I2, and this casing extends rearwardly of the core. The entire unit may be mounted by means of brackets I3. Directly or indirectly coupled to these brackets is a motor mounting plate or web I4 supporting a motor casing I5. The shaft I6 of this motor has attached to it an air impeller, as for example by hub I l and set screw I8.

A shroud plate assembly is formed by telescoping and seaming within the main casing I2 a further casing section comprising a rear wall plate 2| formed with a central annular opening and a flange 22. continued to form mounting arms |9 to receive or support resilient studs I 9 which bear against and retain the core assembly in position within and adjacent the forward portion of the casing I2. If desired, the mounting arms I9 may be separate plates or any other convenient structure.

Secured forward of and spaced from the rear wall plate 2| are a pair of anged plates 20, each presenting arcuate inner edges and cooperating to form a central annular opening of a greater area than the opening in the rear plate 2|. The plates may be conveniently attached to the inner face of ange 22.

Now with regard to the air impeller, it will be understood that this primarily forms the subject matter of my previously filed application oi which the present is a division. Suilice it to say that such air impeller may conveniently include (Figs. 1 and 2) a plurality of fan blades 3| attached, for example, to an annular strip 24 but being spot welded or otherwise secured to in-` wardly extending portions 3D forming a part of such strip. To provide such portions strip 24 may be slitted as indicated at 29. This strip also carries integrally or otherwise a blower wheel comprising aplurality of blades 29 and it is obvious, as a consequence of this structure, that when the motor is operating, air will be drawn through the heat transfer unit and be distributed and outwardly through the space between plates 29 and 2| by the blower wheel structure.

The form of air impeller illustrated in Fig. 4 follows substantially the same teachings as heretofore, excepting that as taught in the'prior application the fan blades are preferably formed integrally' with th'e blower wheel. Accordingly, it will be most desirable to have the fan draw cold air through its body and impel the same out- This flange 22 is preferably i is sucked through such core and then distributed by the blower wheel structure.

However, in any instance Where air is sucked rearwardly or inwardly and is thereupon to be distributed through the interior or space to be heated or cooled, a structure having the functional characteristics such as those included in my prior Patent No. 2,087,160, issued July 13, 1937, may be employed.

Now with a view to distributing the air discharged by the blower wheel, it will be observed, as in Fig. 2, that ducts 32 may extend from each corner of the main casing and afford passages which may be conveniently coupled to the tubes, or otherwise, which .latter are connected, for example, to openings or nozzles situated adjacent the windshield, or other desired portion of the vehicle. A distinct advantage is, of course, derived by the use of individual ducts and the inner ends of these ducts, or passages, may conveniently be provided in the following manner:

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the flange 22 of the shroud plate assembly is slitted to furnish a tongue portion 33 and the latter is bent inwardly to extend at a tangent to the elements of the blower wheel. In line with the opening thus furnished, the main casing is cut away, and in fact the opening furnished through the latter should,

preferably, be of larger area than the opening through flange 22. A duct 34 of rectangular or other con-figuration, overlies flange 22 and provides a passageway in line with the opening through the latter. This duct extends flush with, and forms a continuation of, main casing I2. Consequently, properly extending discharge passages are furnished for the air which 'is lradially distributed by the blower Wheel.

In many respects it is preferred to have these passages extending outwardly from the side edges of the casing, but if a greater "pick-up space is desired for the blower wheel, and in advance of these passages, then they may be located as shown in Fig. 4. In this figure a construction identical to that afore described is employed with the exception only that the passageways extend perpendicularly to the longitudinal edges of casing l I2. However, it will be apparent that under these circumstances practically the entire effective space between one passageway and the next adjacent passageway may be employed by ,the blower wheel to collect air for discharge through such passageways. Obviously, while it is desirable to employ a pair of discharge passages, a greater or lesser number of the same might be utilized.

As a consequence of a construction such as the foregoing, it will be understood that it is feasible to provide and form sheet metal parts which may readily be assembled to -furnish a unitary structure which will be rigid and rattle-proof. Aside from this advantage, however, such structure will permit of a most efficient distribution of air aside from the fact that it is feasibe to employ this structure in quantity production'methods which will necessitate only such skill as an ordinary workman possesses.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention, as afore noted, are achieved. It will be understood that numerous changes in construction and method and rearrangement of the parts might be resorted to without departing from the spirit'l of the invention as defined by the claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A housing to receive a heat exchange structure and including a casing presenting a corner portion, said casing being slitted and bent to furnish an inwardly extending tongue adjacent such corner portion and providing in association with said casing the entrance to a duct and a duct member applied to said casing and overlying the opening, thus provided, to furnish a continuation of said duct extending angularly with respect to said casing.

2. A housing to receive a heat exchange structure and including a pair of casings, one enclosing the other of the same, the innermost of said casings being slitted to provide a tongue portion, said tongue portion being bent to extend angularly with respect to the wall of said casing to furnish a duct entrance, the outermost of said casings being formed with an opening of an area larger than the opening provided by said tongue and in line with such opening and a duct member presenting flanges to overlie the surface of said innermost casing, the edges of saidflanges substantially abutting the edges of the outer casing opening.

3. A housing to receive a heat exchange structure and air distributing mechanism, said housing including a shroud plate assembly comprising a pair of substantially identical and flanged plates disposed adjacent each other and providing in aggregate an annular opening, a casing also forming a part of said assembly and secured to said flanges and providing in association with said plates a housing for a blower wheel, said casing including a flange, and a rear wall plate formed with a central opening of an area less than the opening provided by said rst named plates, a fan in said last mentioned opening, a main casing forming a part of said housing and enclosing said first named casing and secured thereto to maintain the latter in position, and inwardly extending mounting portions forming a part of said first named casing to support a heat exchange unit within said main casing and beyond said first named casing.

4. A housing to receive a heat exchange structure and air distributing mechanism, said housing including a main casing, a pair of substantially identical flanged plates, disposed adjacent each other and within said casing, and cooperating to form an annular air distributing opening, a further casing telescoped within said main casing and having inwardly extending mounting portions disposed in front of said plates for supporting a heat exchange structure in front of said opening and within said main casing and a wall rearwardly of said plates and providing in association with said plates, a blower housing, said wall being formed with a central fan receiving opening, and said main and telescoped casings being formed with aligned openings cooperating to form an outlet for said blower housing.

CARL E. MEYERHOEFER. 

